Just Like Mamen Used to Make: Where to Find Authentic Jewish Cuisine

Outside of Tel Aviv, Israel, the largest Jewish population in the world is in New York City. I am aware that there are a ton of other places where you can find authentic Jewish Cuisine (I like The General Muir in Atlanta), but for the sake of this article, I will concentrate on the culinary offerings of NYC.

Please use the comments below to let us know where your favorite bowl of Matzo Ball Soup or plate of Latkes is in your home town! We would all love to hear about those places and mum knows that I do seek out a good pastrami sandwich when I am traveling around.

A quick note about Jewish cuisine: You will notice a crossover between Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, German and even Iranian and Egyptian dishes in the Jewish diet as these are the countries of their origin. I am seeking out most of the common dishes here. And now, a mere smattering of great places to grab a Jewish meal in New York:

As they say on their website, “It would not have been possible for Katz’s Delicatessen to survive three depressions, numerous recessions, and two World Wars if we weren't the best in NYC.” I will definitely put them in my top five. Since 1888 they have been serving up traditional Jewish fare.

They have all the traditional favorites from Matzo Ball Soup to Latkes to Pastrami and Tongue sandwiches, too. I myself always get the Rueben and take half of it home for dinner. Then I don’t eat for the next two days. Yes, it’s that big. Good news here, they will ship salami and bagels anywhere in the country and you can even have them throw in a black and white cookie. I am already ordering.

Open since 1908 and still being run by the Greengrass family, The Sturgeon King is still living up to his name. If it’s Sturgeon, Salmon, or Whitefish, this is the place to be. Their Salmon scramble with eggs and onions is awesome, and you might pay as much as $22.50 for a triple-decker sandwich, but it is well worth it. They have everything from Caviar Presentations all the way down to cheese sandwiches. In 2006 they were given the James Beard Foundation Award for Excellence and they deserve it. I am just partial to a place that has Herring in Sour Cream.

Mile End

As far as I am concerned, all Jewish Delicatessens are 100 years old and at least one of the guys working there needs to be pretty close to that age as well. Mile End actually flies right in face with that premise. Born in Brooklyn in 2010, raised in Manhattan in 2012 and grew into a cookbook later that year, the Mile End legacy is off to a great start. They definitely walk the line of more restaurant than deli, and their menu reflects that. Their play on traditional Jewish Deli foods is fun and fresh. How about a loxter roll with house-made lox, dill mayo, sea salt & vinegar chips? Sounds good to me.

The absolute best part of this place is the fact that they will deliver to you anywhere in Manhattan. Abe Lebewohl ran the original Second Avenue Deli until his brutal murder in 1996. The family eventually closed the deli down, only to open two new locations in Midtown and the Upper East Side. They have all of the usuals, including Gefilte Fish and real Knishes.

They even cure their own corned beef and tongue. I have always had a hard time with tongue. Something about tasting something that can taste you back. If you are the “go big or go home” type, try the Triple Bypass Sandwich: A triple-decker sandwich consisting of three large potato pancakes and everything but the kitchen sink, served with French fries. It can all be yours for only $45.95.

So I obviously had to put a bagel place on the list, because if you haven't ever had a true New York bagel, you haven’t really had a bagel. It seems that there really is no rhyme or reason when I poll my friends of where they like to go. Everyone has their local place that they go to; the guy they know; “this place bakes them right before I get there every day.”

However most agreed that if they found themselves in front of Black Seed or Brooklyn bagel, they would probably grab a dozen to bring home. Black Seed Bagels is going to be more of your artisan bagel, with them being all hand rolled and wood fired. They are a hybrid of Montreal and New York Bagels and come is a variety of flavors, with spreads and sandwiches available as well.

BBCC reminds me more of what I am expecting in a bagel place, a ton of flavored bagels, croissants, Danishes, full breakfasts, Panini’s, soups, salads, and a ton of spreads. They have three locations and have been continually voted best bagel in the city. With the risk of starting a fight amongst my friends, I am going to say that if you can’t eat the bagel you love, then love the bagel you eat. To each his or her own.

Alright, so there’s my (and some close NYer friends’) take on New York and where to get a good Kosher Dill. Where is your favorite haunt? Let me know!

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